James F Byrnes Foundation
The James F. Byrnes Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbia, South Carolina. Established in 1948, it supports college education through scholarships for South Carolina residents who have lost one or both parents.
James F Byrnes Foundation at a glance
In short: James F Byrnes Foundation gave $227K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in South Carolina. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $227,000
- +19.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- -17.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,947
- +44.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,466,060
- +5.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James F Byrnes Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds from charitable organizations. For scholarship applicants, its website says the 2026 application process is closed and applications for Fall 2027 will be available in December 2026. The 2024 filing states that applicants must have lost one or both parents; complete and submit the application themselves; provide the required school transcripts and other requested information, including financial details; attach a recent photograph; and include a brief autobiography. The filing also specifies that applications are due at the end of the fall term.
- Review Cycle
- March 15, with no exceptions, according to the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- March 15, with no exceptions, according to the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: James F Byrnes Foundation
Mailing address: 2711 Middleburg Drive 314, Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: (803) 254-9325
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James F Byrnes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of South Carolina ($50K). Together the top 10 received $188K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 102 grants of 105 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Scholarship applicants must be residents of South Carolina. The Foundation’s reported 2025 grant dollars were concentrated in South Carolina (89%); the remaining shares went to Alabama, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan (2% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is James F Byrnes Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 19 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $160K (2021) to $227K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $227K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina Columbia, SC | Education | $50,000 |
| Clemson University Clemson, SC | Education | $47,500 |
| Anderson University Anderson, SC | Education | $25,000 |
| Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC | Education | $20,000 |
| College of Charleston Charleston, SC | Education | $15,000 |
| USC Upstate Spartanburg, SC | Education | $10,000 |
| Auburn University Auburn, AL | Education | $5,000 |
| Furman University Greenville, SC | Education | $5,000 |
| Lander University Greenwood, SC | Education | $5,000 |
| Limestone University Gaffney, SC | Education | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with James F Byrnes Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,466,060 | $683,369 | $405,297 | $227,000 | 19 | $326,478 | $368,816 | $292,627 |
| 2024 | $5,187,988 | $447,969 | $371,822 | $190,106 | 23 | $295,824 | $271,104 | $276,859 |
| 2023 | $5,111,841 | $333,096 | $380,544 | $192,581 | 24 | $333,555 | $64,294 | $263,272 |
| 2022 | $5,159,289 | $360,081 | $357,452 | $186,872 | 22 | $314,806 | $43,853 | $271,372 |
| 2021 | $5,156,660 | $654,761 | $270,999 | $159,594 | 17 | — | $386,724 | $264,258 |
| 2020 | $4,779,865 | $1,679,284 | $343,528 | $167,188 | 14 | — | $103,953 | $213,972 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James F Byrnes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $293K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to help students finance a college education. Its scholarship eligibility information describes applicants as high school seniors who are South Carolina residents, have lost one or both parents, and plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university. The website also lists U.S. citizenship, financial need, and a satisfactory scholastic record among the requirements.
The Foundation’s 2025 grants were reported for education and went largely to colleges and universities. Grantees describe a range of missions: the University of South Carolina says it supports research on business and economic problems and management education; Anderson University describes itself as a comprehensive university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in a supportive Christian atmosphere; and Limestone University says it educates students in the liberal arts and selected professional disciplines, including through programs intended to broaden access to higher education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 19 grants totaling $227,000. The grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest reported grants were $50,000 to the University of South Carolina, $47,500 to Clemson University, $25,000 to Anderson University, $20,000 to Winthrop University, and $15,000 to the College of Charleston. Each was listed for education.
The Foundation’s website says it has awarded 1,263 scholarships totaling more than $7 million since 1949. Scholarships are for eligible students, while the IRS filing describes the Foundation’s contributions to charitable organizations as limited to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Deaver McCraw as president; Jay Hayes as vice president; Kim Hatcher as secretary; and James Rhodes as treasurer. It also lists Ty Collier, Pam McElveen, Carrie Pergerson, Dal H Poston, Robin Holden Price, and Rory Priester, MD, as directors. The Foundation’s website says its Board of Directors is comprised entirely of Byrnes Scholars.
James F Byrnes Foundation is led by Deaver McCraw, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Deaver McCraw
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Pergerson
Director
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dal H. Poston
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pam McElveen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rory Priester MD
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Sneed
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ty Collier
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faith Waitman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Holden Price
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Rhodes
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Hayes
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Hatcher
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Kristine Hobbs (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Lois H. Anderson (2020–2024) — Director Emeritus
- Former: Roxann Wrightson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Bill Rowe (2020) — Chairman Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about James F Byrnes Foundation
How much does James F Byrnes Foundation give each year?
James F Byrnes Foundation gave $227K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $190K across 23 grants.
What is James F Byrnes Foundation's typical grant size?
James F Byrnes Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,947, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James F Byrnes Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does James F Byrnes Foundation give grants?
James F Byrnes Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (2 grants) and Spartanburg, SC (2 grants).
Does James F Byrnes Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on James F Byrnes Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (19 grants).
Who are James F Byrnes Foundation's largest grantees?
James F Byrnes Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of South Carolina ($50,000), Clemson University ($47,500) and Anderson University ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James F Byrnes Foundation?
James F Byrnes Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $326K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $293K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James F Byrnes Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to help students finance a college education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James F Byrnes Foundation?
The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds from charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James F Byrnes Foundation's EIN?
James F Byrnes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-6024756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does James F Byrnes Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James F Byrnes Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-f-byrnes-foundation-morg_b5535720291346249affc0d3c4ded62f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_576024756_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James F Byrnes Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-f-byrnes-foundation-morg_b5535720291346249affc0d3c4ded62f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from James F Byrnes Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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